Movie Review: Jake Johnson & Mary Steenburgen Light Up The Screen In Charming Underdog Story “The Dink”

Jake Johnson’s got a knack for playing the kind of guy you’d actually want to grab a beer with—down-to-earth, funny, easy to root for. Whether he’s shuffling around as Nick Miller in “New Girl” or popping up in big movies like “Jurassic World,” “The Mummy,” or “Tag,” he always brings this offbeat comic timing and relaxed charm that makes his roles feel real. Sure, his sense of humor isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but there’s something about the way he can bring a little levity, even when things get awkward, that genuinely lands.

In “The Dink,” Johnson plays Dustin Boyd, a former tennis prodigy who had his career cut short after a nasty wrist injury. These days, Dustin’s stuck teaching tennis to a bunch of spoiled kids at his dad Chuck’s (Ed Harris) country club, and he’s pretty much haunted by what could have been. His relationship with Chuck is rocky at best—they’re not exactly swapping Father’s Day cards—but they do find common ground complaining about the tidal wave of pickleball taking over the club.

After Dustin tweaks his old injury again, his doctor (Ben Stiller) floats the idea of playing pickleball for rehab. Dustin hates the idea, but eventually gives in, hoping maybe he can recapture a piece of the athlete he used to be. That’s when he meets Candace (Mary Steenburgen), a veteran pickleball player with a lot of heart, and the two strike up an unexpected, genuine friendship. Complications kick in when Dustin gets wind that the club might go all-in on pickleball, putting tennis on the chopping block. Suddenly, a lot is riding on a high-stakes match between the club’s best tennis and pickleball players. Dustin assumes he’ll be repping tennis, but Chuck throws a curveball and picks someone from Dustin’s past, dredging up old rivalries and a whole mess of unresolved baggage.

If you’re getting “Happy Gilmore” vibes, you’re not far off—“The Dink” shares that same spirit, with a washed-up sports hero forced into a weird new scene. Steenburgen’s Candace is a breath of fresh air—a single woman later in life who’s not just comic relief, but a real anchor for Dustin. There’s a hilarious bit where Dustin totally misreads her signals during a screening of “The Graduate,” but thankfully, the film keeps things platonic and lets their friendship take center stage.

The cast is rock solid—Johnson and Steenburgen are especially great together, bringing warmth and honesty to their scenes. Steering the story away from romance and toward real friendship feels like the right call. Ed Harris, Aaron Chen, Ben Stiller, and Patton Oswalt round out the cast, adding a little extra zing. “The Dink” doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it’s a charming, easy watch that’ll leave you smiling.